trailer MERCEDES-BENZ GL 2014 User Guide

Important safety notes..................263
Installing the ball coupling.............265
Mounting dimensions....................456
Power supply.................................270
Pulling away with a trailer..............170
Removing the ball coupling............269
Storing the ball coupling................269
Trailer drive program.....................255
Trailer loads...................................457
Towing away
With both axles on the ground.......399
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting............400
Important safety notes..................397
Trailer coupling
see Towing a trailer
Trailer loads and drawbar
noseweights......................................269
Trailer towing
Active Blind Spot Assist.................250
Active Lane Keeping Assist............253
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 245
PARKTRONIC.................................225
Permissible trailer loads and
drawbar noseweights.....................269
Transfer case.....................................182
Transmission
see Automatic transmission
Transmission position display.........173
Transmission position display
(DIRECT SELECT lever)......................173
Transporting the vehicle..................399
Traveling uphill
Brow of hill ..................................... 200
Driving downhill.............................201
Maximum gradient-climbing
capability.......................................200
Trim pieces (cleaning instructions).382
Trip computer (on-board computer)275
Trip meter
see Trip odometer
Trip odometer
Calling up ....................................... 275
Resetting (on-board computer)......276
Trunk
see Tailgate
Turn signals
Display message............................303
Switching on/off...........................131
TWR (Tongue Weight Rating)
(definition).........................................427
Type identification plate
see Vehicle identification plate
U
Unlocking
Emergency unlocking.......................88
From inside the vehicle (central
unlocking button).............................87
V
Vanity mirror (in the sun visor)........350
Vehicle
Correct use......................................28
Data acquisition...............................29
Display message............................320
Equipment.......................................24
Individual settings..........................282
Limited Warranty.............................29
Loading..........................................415
Locking (in an emergency)...............88
Locking (SmartKey) .......................... 80
Lowering........................................432
Maintenance....................................25
Parking for a long period ................ 191
Pulling away...................................170
Raising...........................................429
Reporting problems.........................28
Securing from rolling away............428
Towing away..................................397
Transporting..................................399
Unlocking (in an emergency)...........88
Unlocking (SmartKey)......................80
Vehicle data...................................453
Vehicle battery
see Battery (vehicle)
Vehicle data.......................................453
Vehicle data (off-road driving)
Approach/departure angle............455
Fording depth................................454
Maximum gradient climbing ability 455
Vehicle dimensions...........................453
Index21

The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action for better traction on loose
surfaces.
Rtraction control is still activated.
RESP®still provides support when you
brake.
Off-road ESP®
An ESP®system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated (Ypage 258).
Off-road ESP®intervenes with a delay if there
is oversteering or understeering, thus
improving traction.
ESP®trailer stabilization
General information
ESP®trailer stabilization is not available in
AMG vehicles.
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
swerve, ESP®assists you in this situation.
ESP®slows the vehicle down by braking and
limiting the engine output until the vehicle/
trailer combination has stabilized.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilization will not be able to prevent
the vehicle/trailer combination from
swerving. Trailers with a high center of gravity
can tip over before ESP®can detect this.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer
combination) begins to lurch, you can only
stabilize the vehicle/trailer combination by
depressing the brake firmly.
Trailer stabilisation is active above speeds of
about 37 mph (60 km/h).
ESP®trailer stabilization does not work if
ESP®is deactivated or disabled because of a
malfunction.
Crosswind driving assistance
General information
Strong crosswinds can cause your vehicle to
deviate from a straight course. The crosswind
driving assistance function integrated into
ESP®significantly reduces these effects.
ESP®intervenes automatically according to
the direction and intensity of the crosswinds
affecting your vehicle.
ESP stabilities the vehicle with braking
interventions to assist you in keeping the
vehicle in the lane.
Crosswind driving assistance is active at
vehicle speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h)
when driving straight ahead or cornering
gently.
Important safety notes
Crosswind driving assistance does not work
if ESP®is deactivated or disabled because of
a malfunction.
EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
General information
EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure on the rear wheels to improve
driving stability while braking.
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes"
section for driving safety systems
(Ypage 67).
GWARNING
If EBD has malfunctioned, the rear wheels can
still lock, e.g. under full braking. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
74Driving safety systems
Safety

Useful information............................166
Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle 166
Driving...............................................166
Automatic transmission...................173
Refueling............................................182
Parking...............................................188
Driving tips........................................191
Driving systems................................201
Towing a trailer.................................263
165
Driving and parking

Using KEYLESS-GO to start the engine
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
XTo start a gasoline engine:press the
Start/Stop button (Ypage 167) once.
The engine starts.
XTo start a diesel engine:press the Start/
Stop button (Ypage 167) once.
Preglow is activated and the engine starts.
iThe Start/Stop button can be used to
start the vehicle without inserting the
SmartKey into the ignition lock. The Start/
Stop button must be inserted in the ignition
lock and the SmartKey must be in the
vehicle.
Pulling away
Automatic transmission
GWARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission positionDor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission positionDorR,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
XShift the transmission to positionDorR
(Ypage 173).
XRelease the brake pedal.
XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The electric parking brake (Ypage 189) is
automatically released.
The redI(USA only) or$(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
iIt is only possible to shift the transmission
from positionPto the desired position if
you depress the brake pedal. Only then is
the parking lock released. If you do not
depress the brake pedal, you can move the
DIRECT SELECT lever but the parking lock
remains engaged.
iThe vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
You can also deactivate the automatic
locking feature (Ypage 284).
iUpshifts take place at higher engine
speeds after a cold start. This helps the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature more quickly.
Pulling away with a trailer
To ensure that you do not roll backwards
when pulling away on an uphill slope, engage
the electric parking brake.
XPress and hold handleC.
The electric parking brake continues to
brake and prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards.
The redI(USA only) or$(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster remains on.
XDepress the accelerator pedal.
XAs soon as the vehicle/trailer combination
is held by the driving force of the engine,
release leverC.
The electric parking brake is released.
170Driving
Driving and parking

DNeutral
Do not shift the transmission toN
while driving. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission could be
damaged.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP®is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to
positionNif the vehicle is in danger
of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
If you switch off the engine using
the SmartKey or the Start/Stop
button, the automatic transmission
shifts to neutralNautomatically.
!Rolling in neutralNcan damage
the drive train.
:Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the
individual gears automatically when it is in
transmission positionD. This automatic
gearshifting behavior is determined by:
Rthe position of the accelerator pedal
Rthe road speed
Driving tips
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
XDepress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
XEase off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Rocking the vehicle free
Shifting the transmission repeatedly between
gearsDandRmay help to free the vehicle if
it has become stuck in slush or snow. The
vehicle's engine management system limits
the speed to a maximum of 5 mph (9 km/h)
when shifting back and forth. To shift back
and forth between transmission positionsD
andR, move the DIRECT SELECT selector
lever up and down past the point of
resistance.
Towing a trailer
XDrive in the middle of the engine speed
range on uphill gradients.
XDepending on the uphill or downhill
gradient, use left-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter (Ypage 177) to select a
lower gear, even if cruise control or
DISTRONIC PLUS are activated.
176Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

Driving downhill
RDrive slowly.
RDo not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight.
Otherwise, the vehicle could slip sideways,
tip and rollover.
RShift to a lower gear using the left-hand
paddle shifter before tackling steep
downhill gradients.
RActivate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake
gently. When doing so, make sure that the
vehicle is facing in the direction of the line
of fall.
RCheck that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
iThe special off-road ABS setting enables
a precise, brief and repeated locking of the
front wheels. This causes them to dig into
loose earth. Be aware that the front wheels
easily skid across the ground surface if
completely braked and therefore lose their
ability to steer.
Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. You must
select a lower gear in good time on long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. By doing
so, you will make use of the braking effect of
the engine. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
iCruise control should not be activated
when driving off-road.
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Cruise control cannot take into account the
road, traffic and weather conditions. Cruise
control is only an aid. You are responsible for
the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for
staying in your lane.
Do not use cruise control:
Rin road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
Ron slippery road surfaces. Braking or
accelerating could cause the drive wheels
to lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid
Rwhen there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever
CTo activate or increase speed
DTo activate or reduce speed

You must select a lower gear in good time on
long and steep downhill gradients, especially
if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. By
doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine. This relieves the load on
the brake system and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a slower-moving
vehicle in front, your vehicle is braked in order
to maintain the preset distance to the vehicle
in front.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that there is a risk
of a collision, you will be warned visually and
acoustically. DISTRONIC PLUS cannot
prevent a collision without your intervention.
An intermittent warning tone will then sound
and the distance warning lamp will light up in
the instrument cluster. Brake immediately in
order to increase the distance to the vehicle
in front or take evasive action provided it is
safe to do so.
For DISTRONIC PLUS to assist you, the radar
sensor system must be operational.
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control in the speed range between 20 mph
(Canada: 30 km/h) and 120 mph (Canada:
200 km/h). If a vehicle is driving in front of
you, it operates in the speed range between
0 mph (0 km/h) and 120 mph (Canada:
200 km/h).
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS while driving on
roads with steep gradients.
As DISTRONIC PLUS transmits radar waves,
it can resemble the radar detectors of the
responsible authorities. You can refer to the
relevant chapter in the Operator's Manual if
questions are asked about this.
iUSA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC
as a "Vehicular Radar System". The radar
sensor is intended for use in an automotive
radar system only. Removing, tampering
with, or altering the device will void any
warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
iCanada only: This device complies with
RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the
device will void any warranties, and is not
permitted. Do not tamper with, alter, or use
in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS does not react to:
Rpeople or animals
Rstationary obstacles on the road, e.g.
stopped or parked vehicles
Roncoming and crossing traffic
As a result, DISTRONIC PLUS may neither give
warnings nor intervene in such situations.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
GWARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot always clearly
identify other road users and complex traffic
situations.
In such cases, DISTRONIC PLUS may:
Rgive an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
Rneither give a warning nor intervene
Raccelerate unexpectedly
204Driving systems
Driving and parking

Deactivating the HOLD function
The HOLD function is deactivated
automatically if:
Ryou accelerate and the transmission is in
positionDorR.
Ryou shift the transmission to positionP.
Ryou depress the brake pedal again with a
certain amount of pressure untilC
disappears from the multifunction display.
Ryou secure the vehicle using the electric
parking brake.
Ryou activate DISTRONIC PLUS.
iAfter a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake.
The electric parking brake automatically
secures the vehicle if the HOLD function is
activated and:
Rthe driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
Rthe engine is switched off.
Ra system malfunction occurs.
Rthe power supply is not sufficient.
On steep uphill or downhill inclines or if there
is a malfunction, the transmission may also
be automatically shifted into positionP.
AIRMATIC package
General notes
AIRMATIC regulates the level of your vehicle.
As well as level control (Ypage 218), your
vehicle can be equipped with ADS (Adaptive
Damping System) (Ypage 217) and ACTIVE
CURVE SYSTEM (Ypage 218).
Observe the notes on driving with a trailer
(Ypage 264).
ADS (Adaptive Damping System)
General notes
ADS adapts the damping characteristics to
the current operating and driving situation.
This depends on:
Ryour driving style
Rthe road surface conditions
Rthe ADS setting
Rthe vehicle level setting
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Sports tuning
Example: vehicles without the ON&OFFROADpackage
CSuspension tuning button
DIndicator lamp for sports tuning

If indicator lampCis on then PARKTRONIC
is deactivated. Active Parking Assist is then
also deactivated.
iPARKTRONIC is automatically activated
when you turn the SmartKey to position2
in the ignition lock.
Towing a trailer
!Fold in the ball coupling if the trailer tow
hitch is not required. PARKTRONIC
measures the minimum detection range to
an obstacle from the bumper, not the ball
coupling.
PARKTRONIC is deactivated for the rear area
when you establish an electrical connection
between your vehicle and a trailer.
Driving systems225
Driving and parking
Z

Active Parking Assist may possibly indicate
parking spaces which are not suitable for
parking, for example:
Rwhere parking or stopping is prohibited
Rin front of driveways or entrances and exits
Ron unsuitable surfaces
Parking tips:
ROn narrow roads, drive as close to the
parking space as possible.
RParking spaces that are littered or
overgrown might be identified or measured
incorrectly.
RParking spaces that are partially occupied
by trailer drawbars might not be identified
as such or be measured incorrectly.
RSnowfall or heavy rain may lead to a parking
space being measured inaccurately.
RPay attention to the PARKTRONIC
(Ypage 224) warning messages during the
parking procedure.
RAt any time, you can intervene in the
steering procedure to correct it. Active
Parking Assist will then be canceled.
RWhen transporting a load which protrudes
from your vehicle, you should not use
Active Parking Assist.
RNever use Active Parking Assist when snow
chains are installed.
RMake sure that the tire pressures are
always correct. This has a direct influence
on the parking characteristics of the
vehicle.
Use Active Parking Assist for parking spaces:
Rthat are parallel to the direction of travel
Rthat are on straight roads, not bends
Rthat are on the same level as the road, e.g.
not on the pavement
Detecting parking spaces
Objects located above the height range of
Active Parking Assist will not be detected
when the parking space is measured. These
are not taken into account when the parking
procedure is calculated, e.g. overhanging
loads, tail sections or loading ramps of goods
vehicles.
GWARNING
If there are objects above the detection range,
Active Parking Assist may turn prematurely.
You may cause a collision as a result. There is
a risk of an accident.
If there are objects above the detection range,
stop and deactivate Active Parking Assist.
For further information on the detection
range (Ypage 223).
Active Parking Assist does not support you
with parking spaces parallel to the direction
of travel if:
Rthe parking space is on a curb
Rthe system reads the parking space as
being blocked, for example by foliage or
grass paving blocks
Rthe area is too small for the vehicle to
maneuver into
Rthe parking space is bordered by an
obstacle, e.g. a tree, a post or a trailer
CDetected parking space on the left
DParking symbol